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Horticultural Editor of tlie Srx Axn 
Prk:ss. .THcksonville. Fla 



l^RiNTED AND PUBLISHED 

BY CHARLES W. DACOSTA> 

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: 



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ARLINGTON 

NURSERIES 



Tropical and Seml-Tropical 

FRUIT TREES, 

Roses, Deciduous and Evergreen 
Shrubs and Flowering Plants. 



New and Choice Varieties of 

@i^iii ffiiiili l:iiii5 

Made a Specialty. 



Send for Descriptive Catalogue for 

Fall- of 1880 and Spring of 1881. 

Albert I. Bidwell, 

Jacksonville, Florida. 



A TREATISE 



ON 



THE CULTURE 



OF 



THE ORANGE 



TOGETHi^K 

Win, A I) -,S('!:i]'TION OF SOME OF THE BEST VAHIETIE^ 
OF THE FFaJIT, OATHEKING, CIJFJNG AND 
PREPARING THE FliUIT FOR SHIP- 
MENT AND MARKET 

BY GEORGE W, DAVIS, M. D., 

) « 

Horticultural Editor of the Sun and 
Prkss. Jacksonville. Fla. 



PUBLISHED AND PRINTED 

BY CHARLES W. DACOSTA. 

JACKSONVILLE. FLORIDA. 

1881. 



Eutered According to Act of Congress in the year 1881, by 

GEORGE W. DAVIS. 

In the Office of Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



e^^^^ 



9 



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TO THE READER. 

Ill presenting this little Treatise on Orange Culture to 
the notice of a rliscerning public, the writer desires to 
acknowledge his inability to do exact justice to the subject. 
It is not a compilation, but a plain, comprehensive state- 
ment of facts — not theories — as he understands them ; the 
I't'sult of ten years close observation and practical experi- 
enee. Should this little work meet a long-felt want of a 
practical guide in orange culture, and be the means of 
speeding the good work along to a successful issue, the 
highest aim and object will have been attained, by 
Yours truly, 

George W. Davis. 

Jacksonville, Florida, January 1881. 






CULTURE OF THE OKANOE. 



rOCATION OF GROVE. 

The most important consideration when starting an 
orange grove, is location. This shoiihl be near some snre 
and permanent line of transportation, or in the immediate 
vicinity of some proposed line which will he sure to be 
established in the near future. There are at present maiiy 
fine bearing groves scattered over the State, from ten lo 
thirty miles from an outlet; and hauling boxes of oranges 
that far by wagon is attended with a good deal ol' expense 
and often loss of much of the fruit by bruising, which unfits 
it for transportation to distant markets. In legard to lati- 
tude and longitude, we believe oranges can be successfully 
grown, in good locations, anywhere south of the Georgia 
line. There are many small groves of old trees in the 
vicinity of Jacksonville, in latitude 80° 20', also on Amelia 
Island, which have borne fairly for the last forty yeiu>. 
Some localities are more exempt from frost than others, it 



is true ; but when the grove is situated on moderately high 
and dry land, not in the vicinity of marshes, and properly 
protected with timber belts, we believe, it matters but little 
where it is located below 31°, in Florida. Frost is perhaps 
more likely to occur in the extreme northern and middle 
portions of the State, but is more destructive on low wet 
places, not suited to orange culture. Undoubtedly, the 
most attractive locations are in the vicinity of the St. Johns 
river, but that is not saying that there are no other ^-ood or 
desirable places in the State. 

Much stress has heretofore been laid on water protec- 
tion, by nearly all writers who have written on the subject. 
They contend that a large body of water located on the 
west or north of a grove is pretty sure to prevent injury 
by frost. This, however, depends upon circumstances. In 
case of frosty weather, if there is wind from the northwest 
or north, in passing over a large body of water, the tem- 
perature of which is much above the atmosphere, ihe warm 
vapor is carried by the wind and has a tendency to tem- 
perize to the extent of from two to five degrees; but 
where the atmosphere is still, very little difference will 
be observed in the temperature on either side of the 
water. Frost usually goes in streaks, like wind storms, and 
may be noticed in some localities while others equally 
exposed are exempt. 

The best location for an orange grove is one entirely 
surrounded by a belt of tall timber trees. If this cannot 
be had, it should certainly be protected on the north, east 
and south. There is more damage done to the trees and 
growing crop by th-:- wind than f/om all othei' causes what- 
soever. The damaging winds in this State are from the 
north, northeast, east and southeast, and groves exposed on 



those points of the compass are very likely co suffer annu 
ally from that cause. However attractive and desirable it 
may be to locate a g)-ove on the border of some lake or 
broad river, yet the disadvautages arising from exp(vure to 
wind storms would more than counterha'ance in tlie eml. 



SOIL. 



The orange will grow and thrive m almost any soil 
not too wet or too dry. But, like all other fruit trees, souie 
soils are better adapted to its cnltivation than others. The 
best soil seems to be a light sandy loanj, naturally dj-ained, 
moderately elevated, not less than five feet and ijot more 
than twenty feet above permaneid. water. As slaved aht>Vf, 
orange trees will flourish and l).-ar very well on ]o\'~ nxiist 
soil, or even on a dry poi-ous soil ; but the trees are mori' 
subject to disease, and the yield of fruit is more likely to 
vary in quality and quantity. Because the wild oran<^c is 
to be found mostly in low wet hammock, is no reason why 
the sweet orange will do well there. The fact that the wild 
orange is principally found on the borders of streams or on 
the shores of lakes in damp localities is accounted for, we 
think, by the fires which annually sweep over the dry land 
an<l destroy small trees and shrubbery: whereas the fir^-s 
never devastate the moist hamni(ck lands, an<] consequently 
the trees are only to be found in such places. 

The soil on which hard timber has once grown is un- 
doubtedly the best for the orange, as it contains more pot- 
ash, and, m fact, all the inorganic elements which are 
requisite. The next best is first-class pine land, but this 
will require more fertilizers; and where higli "hard w^)od 
hammock lands can be had they should be preferred, other 
things being rqual. 



TIME TO PLANT. 

The best time to plant the orange tree is undoubtedly 
when the sap is dormant, from December to March. The 
weather is cool and the buds not yet active ; the young 
trees will suffer less from mutilation of the roots than at 
any other season of the year. Trees may he planted any 
month in the year under favorable circumstances, and even 
in the summer months if care is observed in watering, 
mulching and shading But, f'om long observation and 
experiments, we are forced to the opinion that the winter 
months, when the tree is entirely dormant, is the right time 
to plant. Our most experienced orange growers, we think, 
will agree with us that planting at that time will produce 
the best results. 

PLANTING THE TREES. 

When it is determined to plant on newly cleared land, 
large holes should be excavated, three or four feet in diam- 
eter and tw^o or three feet deep ; all roots should be care- 
fully shaken from the soil taken out. and the soil thor- 
oughly mixed and returned to the holes. If the soil is 
poor it will be well to mix, when returning, one pound of 
fine ground bone ; but if it is of the rich hard wood ham- 
mock land, no fertilizer will be needed, and the holes may 
be filled after sifting out the roots and rubbish. This por- 
tion of the work may be done at leisure, weeks before setting 
the trees. If the grove is to be planted in an old field, 
either bone meal or well rotted stable manure should cer- 
tainly be well mixed with the soil before the trees are set, 
and if the work can be done some days or weeks previously, 
so much the better. 

The distance apart of the lows is a matter of some 
imoortance. Some recomniend tweiilv, some twentv-five, 



and others thirty feet, as the proper distance. But we 
think twenty feet about the right figure, and then you get 
one hundred trees to the acre. 

In selecting trees, those from three to five years old 
should be chosen, and these should be budded to some 
known and good varieties of fruit, either in dormant bud, 
or one year's grow^th will do, if thrifty. 

STOCKS. 

There are various opinions in regard to the stock on 
which the buds are inserted. Some nursery-men recom- 
mend sweet seedlings, and others are more in favor of the 
sour or wild stock. The sour stocks are perhaps as hardy 
as the sweet, and grow much more rapidly and mature 
several years earlier, consequently those who are in a hurry 
to get a bearing grove will procure the best varieties, bud- 
ded low, on the sour stock, If bearing sour trees from the 
wild groves can be obtained, which have grown on high, 
dry land, carefully removed and planted, the tops cut oft' 
four feet from the ground, they will soon start out new 
shoots which can be budded the same season, and in three 
or four years a fine bearing grove may be obtained. But 
the sour wild groves are mostly found in low moist land 
and when transplanted on higher and dryer soil frequently 
sicken and die, or go into the dumps for several years, 
hence the surest way is to procure healthy, strong growing, 
budded seedlings, which have been grown on high and dry 
land. 

SEEDLING TKKKS VS. BUDDED. 

Most of the old groves in Florida are seedling trees, 
and there are many people now living] here who reconr 



10 

mend the planting of seedlings exclusively, contending that 
they will make healthier, larger trees and come into bear- 
ing as early as the grafted. We believe the theory is not 
tenable, and we know there is no certainty of their early 
fruiting. We have seedling trees from twelve to twenty 
years old, healthy and thrifty, which have never borne an 
orange, and we have also trees nine years old, budded, 
which are now in their third year of bearing. 

In regard to the seedling tree being healthier, or grow- 
ing more rapidly, or making a larger tree when thirty 
years old, or bearing more fruit than the budded or grafted 
tree, seems very unreasorable. Many seedling trees are 
barren, or nearly so, and even if they do bear early, there 
is no certainty of obtaining superior tru it, while the budded 
tree is usually propagated from prolific and known varie- 
ties, consequently, is never barren. 

Those trees which bear early and continually, do not 
grow so rapidly as those that do not bear, because fruiting, 
is at the expense of wood, but as the years roll round, if 
they are properly cared for, they will grow to be as large 
and in every way equal to seedlings in size. 

Captain Burnham, of Indian river, says his trees are 
nearly all budded, but that an occasional seedling is stand- 
ing throughout the grove, and his budded trees are imw 
much larger (they are old) more thrifty and prolific than 
the seedlings Plant budded trees by all means. 

The sooner the trees are planted after being lifted 
from the nursery the better. The roots should never be 
exposed to the sun and drying winds, and the best time to 
plant is immediately after a heavy shower of rain. The 
holes should be opened suflSciently large and deep to allow 
of the spreading out nicely all the roots, and then the dirt 
should be carefully worked in, under and around the little 



11 

fibers, and the hole carefully filled up, leaving the collar of 
the tree one or two incees above the natural position when 
taken from the nursery, to allow it to settle and remain at 
the same level it occupied when taken from the ground. 
Now press the soil gently and firmly around the tree with 
the foot, trim off nearly the whole top and many of the 
branches and the work is done. No watering will be 
necessary if the roots are fresh and the ground moist when 
planting. 

WATER. 

Many popie recommend the use of water in planting- 
trees, and its continuance for weeks or months afterwards, 
especially in a dry time. This is undoubtedly good prac- 
tice when trees are of necessity planted when the soil is 
dry ; but ordinarily the time is chosen after a shower, and 
then there is no necessity. We were formerly in favor of 
watering liberally and oten, but in later years we have 
learned by experience that if the trees were properl};' 
planted in the first place, and the tap root from eighteen to 
twenty-four inches long, that watering was labor lost ; and, 
in fact, we believe it to be actually detrimental to the 
trees. 

We are sp^i^king now of the climate of Florida where 
there is nsu;iiiy from fifty to sixty-five inches of rain-fall 
annually, which is so distributed throughout the year that 
watering is unnecessary ; bat in the rainless countries like 
California and the Levant, where the rain-fall during eight 
warm laonths is none or very little, irrigation is absolutely 
necessary during the h^ummer until the trees have reached 
the age of five or ten years after planting, oi- until the tap- 
root and laterals have reache<l down to a permanently 
moist soil. The tap root of an orange tree will extend 



12 

downward till it readies permanent water, no matter what 
the distance from the surface; and the tree will inake but 
very little growth upwards until that is accomplished ; 
hence, trees planted on a porous soil high above water, 
should receive irrigation during a long drouth. 

TOPPING THE TREES 

We have recommended the removal of nearly the 
whole top of the tree at the time of planting, and our reas- 
ons are that evaporation from the leaves is rapid and more 
likely to dry up the circulation in the tree, and the bark 
to shrivel, before the roots have assumed their natural 
functions. We have tried all ways, leaving on the entire 
top, as formerly practiced here, removing a portion, and 
cutting away the whole as in setting trees with dormant 
buds, and we most decidedly give preference to the latter. 
In this latter practice ih:r.'e are no leaves to carry off the 
fluids by evaporation, and when the roots become estab- 
lished and resume their functions, adventitious buds ap- 
pear and usually make a rapid and healthy growth, whereas 
when the entire top or a large portion is allowed to remain, 
the tree seldom makes any growth the first year, and does 
pretty well if it hold^ its own. We know that others hold 
different views on this subject, but we have arrived at our 
conclusions by years of experience, and believe it to be the 
better way. 

MULCHING. 

In regard to mulching, we are utterly opposed to the 
practice. The orange tree is the child of a sunny clime, 
and requires all the warmth and the actinic rays of light 
that can possibly be obtained in ordc* to produce the best 
results. Our efforts should be directed in such a manner 



13 

as to cause the roots of the tree to penetrate deeply into 
the soil where it is always moist, and mulching has a ten- 
dency to produce a contrary result, by keeping the surface 
of the soil moist, and dark, thereby attracting the roots 
upwards instead of downward where we wish them to go. 
Besides this last effect, mulching serves as a harbor for 
termites, moles and other vermine, which are often detri- 
mental to the health tiud life of the tree. Should it be 
determined to mulch, trimmings of trees, brush from the 
woods or other coarse material, are better suited to the 
purpose, because air and light thereby, are freely admitted 
to the surface soil. The best mulch we ever found was the 
frequent stirring of the surface soil wth the hoe, rake or 
cultivator. By this practice air and light are freely admitted 
and evaporation and capillary attraction from the subsoil 
prevented . 

AFTER CULTUPIE. 

When the trees begin to put on a new growth it will 
be well to give a light dressing of well rotted stable manure, 
or some one of the artificial fertilizers well stirred into the 
soil, if they have not already been fertilized at the time of 
planting. The grove should be kept entirely free from 
weeds and grass, by the hoe, plow or cultivator, and the 
soil about the trees often raked over to prevent baking. 
Water sprouts will sodn make their appearance, and should 
be removed at once and only such branches allowed to grow 
as are desirable for the formation of the tree. 

SCALE INSECTS. 

Should the scale insects make their appearance they 
should be attended to at once, the body of the tree, branches 
and Ipavf'F". should be treated with some soapy solution, a})- 



14 

plied with a brush to the body of the tree and a syringe 
for sprinkling over the leaves and branches. A strong solu- 
tion of whale oil soap ia an excellent insecticide and may 
be used liberally without danger, and with excellent effects 
both as an insect destroyer, and a solvent of scurf, moss 
and smut or mould, which often attach themselves to the 
leaves and bark of the trees. The application of the soapy 
solution should be repeated every three or four weeks or 
until every vestige of scale or other disease is removed. 
The soapy application has a very beneficial effect, even if 
no scale are present, by removing old bark, cleaning the 
surface and allowing the functions, of the tree fair play. 

Should the scale insects prove obstinate and refuse to 
yield to the milder remedies, stronger preparations may be 
applied. A favorite preparation of our own for obstinate 
cases, and for washing the trunk and braches of older trees, 
is composed of the following ingredients : Take ten 
pounds of carbonate of soda (sal soda) and five pounds of 
any good hard soap. Dissolve the soap in a small quan- 
tity of boiling water, and put it into a forty gallon cask, 
(a lard barrel is the best) add the soda, broken into small 
lumps, then fill up the cask with soft water and stir the 
mixture till all is dissolved and thoroughly mixed, when it 
is ready for use, and always on hand. Apply to the trunk 
and branches of the tree with a brush (we use a common 
long handled tar brush ) give the trunk and branches a 
thorough scrubbing, then shower the tops, leaves and small 
branches by means of a rose nibbed syringe. 

This treatment applied twice a year, spring and fall, 
will keep the trees free from scale, cause the leaves to look 
a dark green, and produce a clean, healthy appearance 
generally. 



15 



CULTIVATION AND TRAINING. 

For the first two or three years vegetables may be 
grown among the trees, but should never be pLanted nearer 
than four or five feet from the tree. No crop shoidd be 
cultivated without first applying plenty of fertilizers, and 
the whole ground s'.ould be kept clean and free from 
weeds. Very little pruning will be required the first year, 
but water sprouts must be dealt with on their appearance. 
In case dormant budded trees are planted, only one shoot 
should be trained ; and this grows so rapidly, under favor- 
able circumstances, and the wood is so succulent and ten- 
der, that it needs some support to keep it in an erect 
position. A common lath placed in the ground near the 
tree, and the shoot tied to it, will furnish sufiicient support 
until it hardens. When the shoot has made a growth of 
three or four feet, pinch off the top and allow lateral 
branches to form. In this manner a fine branching top 
may be formed with a body three or four feet high. 

.No cultivation should be allowed after the first of 
October until February, when a dressing of njanure should 
be spread over the surface about the trees and lightly 
worked into the soil with hoe, harrow or cultivator. The 
after treatment will be to keep the ground light and mel- 
low throughout the season, and if the grove can be worked 
over every three or four weeks, so much the better. We 
prefer the cultivator rather than the plow, as it lightens 
and stirs the soil better and leaves the ground level. 

PROTECTION FROM COLD. 

The tree is young and tender now, and should cold 
weather set in and the thermometer go down to 30° or 28° 
as frequently happens in niany parts of Florida, the sap 
vessels may freeze, expand and crack the bark on the body 
of the tree, which is likely to kill it. In order to prevent 



16 

this occurrence it may be necessary to protect the body by 
wrapping it with moss, or binding it with pine boughs, or 
setting a shingle or barrel stave close to the tree on the 
south side, which will shade the tree from the direct rays 
of the sun at midday. An orange tree will stand ten or 
fifteen degrees of frost, provided the sun's rays may be 
excluded from the frozen surface. We have tried several 
modes of shading the bodies during the winter and prefer 
the shingle ; as in this manner the circulation of air is not 
interfered with, and this we regard as important. It may 
be observed that when the tree is frozen and exposed to the 
sun, the mischief is done to the tree on the south side from 
three to six inches from the ground. The bark soon turns 
black, becomes spongy and soft ; and when this occurs, the 
sooner the tree is sawed off near the ground the better. 
But if properly shaded, nothing of the kind will occur in 
an ordinary cold snap. The treatment is not always neces- 
sary, but it is little trouble to do it and then you feel safe 
from harm by frost. We recommend this precaution for 
the first two or three years, or until the top has grown suffi- 
cient to shade and protect the body of the tree. 

MANURES. 

The orange tree is a great feeder and requires a soil 
rich in piant food, and if the locality chosen for the 
grove does not contain this naturally, the want will have 
to be supplied. 

Owing to the porosity of most of the soils of Florida, 
it will be better to give the grove a light annual dressing 
than to apply a large quantity at once. 

The growing tree, before it comes into bearing, requires 
more of the nitrogenous maui;res than it does after matu- 
rity. This fact should be strictly borne in mind, and then 
there will be no cause for getting the matter mixed. 



17 

The best fertilizer for the young growing orange tree 
is undoubtedly well-rotted stable nciauure. This contains 
all the elements of plant food, in about the right propor 
tions, and where it can be obtained at reasonable cost 
should be secured in preference to any other. All hard 
wooded trees, and especially the orange, require potash and 
phosphorous in larger proportions than soft wooded trees ; 
and the soil best adapted to the orange tree being light and 
leachy, the inorganic elements require to be renewed more 
frequently. In case stable manure cannot be obtained in 
sufficient quantities, there are now prepared artificial fertil- 
izers especially for feeding the orange tree. Among several 
which we have experimented with, "Stowe's Orange Tree 
Food" seems to supply in an eminent degree the place of 
stable manure. It is composed largely of potash and bone 
phosphate, elements which are absolutely necessary to the 
health and vigor of the trees. 

"Gould and Company's Fertilizer and Insect Exterm- 
inator " is another article that is growing into favor, and 
we think it merits all they claim for it. These fertilizers 
are manufactured at our own doors, as it were, and are 
likely to be genuine. 

Fine ground raw bone, ammoniated saperpht>sphate, 
dried blood, fisli oimno and many other artificial fertilizers 
have bev'ii ( uipioyt'd by orange growers with beneficial 
effects ; each person wh • has been successful with any one 
of them, recommends his favorite as the very best. The 
facts are, that each and every one are good, and *' best " in 
proportion to the greatest am(junt of phuit food in a soluble 
form wdiich tliey coiUain Young growing trees require 
fertilizers rich in carbon, nitrogen, phosphates and potash. 
Older bearing trees require manures rich in phosphates 
potash and li?ne. 



18 

MUCK- 

Where other fertilizers cannot be easily obtained, 
muck from the swamps is to be had in abundance in almost 
any part of the State. Fresh dug muck applied to the soil 
is of but little immediate benefit, but when treated with 
fresh caustic lime or composted with stable manure or 
other materials and then applied, it has a very beneficial 
effect. A very good way to apply muck is to remove it 
from the swamp to dry land, allow it to remain in large 
piles for some months or until it is pretty well decomposed, 
then apply it about the trees in liberal quantities, spread it 
well, and in a few weeks sprinkle over it a peck of oyster 
shell lime to each tree. This should be done in January 
or February. After a few days or weeks it should be 
thoroughly worked over and mixed with the surface Si)il 
with hoe or cultivatoi". The plow buries it too deep and 
does not mix it with the soil so well as the cultivator. 

All fertilizers should be applied to the surface and' 
worked into the soil as evenly and lightly as possible. In 
this condition the elements play an important part in. con- 
verting the different articles into plant food which is far- 
ried down to the ro(.'ts by the rainfall. Another mode of 
enlarging the manure heap by the use of muck, is to cart 
it to the cow-pen, hog-pen or horse stable, and allow it to 
receive the fluids and droppings of animals. In this way, 
from its well known powers of absorption, all the inorganic 
properties of manures will be saved, and aitei the muck 
has become sufficiently saturated with the animal excretions 
it should be thrown into heaps and allowed to ferment,- 
when it will be in a fit condition to apply as a dressing to 
the soil. One of the best fertilizers we ever usetl for the 
growing orange trees was a compost of muck, hard wood 
ashes and fine ground bone — three parts muck, two parts 



19 

ashes, and one part bone. Sink a large box in the ground 
sufficient to contain the amount of compost you desire to 
make. First, a thick hiyer of finely deconjposed muck ; 
then a layer of finely ground bone ; then ashes, and so on 
alternately till your compost is complete, finishing oft with 
a thick layer of muck; moisten thoroughly with water, 
and at intervals of tw<) or three weeks renew the moisten- 
ing; when in about three months the solution of the plant 
food will be complete. No escape of ammonia will occur 
while the ashes are dissolving the bone, as the muck will 
absorb that as fast as it is developed. Remove from the 
box, mix thoroughly and you have a complete manure, 
rich in i^lant food. 

We have stated that the orange tree requires a liberal 
supply of potash and phosphorus. Tha sandy lands of 
Florida are very deficient in these materials and the soil, 
being leachy, requires frequent application of fertilizers 
containing these substances. 

cow PEAS AS MANURE. 

Cow peas make an excellent green fertilizer. Some 
recommend the growing of the cow pea and turning under 
with the plow when the peas are in bloom. This would be 
an excellent way to prepare the land before planting the 
trees, and may do very well afterwards if care is taken not 
to plow deep close to (he tree so as to disturb the roots. A 
better way, we think, is to grow the peas in the summer 
and when in pod cut and j)ile around the trees, not too 
near, and allow them to rot on the soil, which ihey will do 
in a few weeks if the season is wet. When pretty well 
rotted stir into the soil and the effects of the dressing will 
be observed in a short time by the vigorous growth and 
fine color of the trees. 

It will be noticed that we have given a good deal of 



20 

of attention to the subject of thorough fertilization, but it 
may be as well to state that on the light poor lands of 
Florida no success will attend the cultivaiion of those who 
neglect it. It has been promulgated by some theorists that 
stable manure is too heating and stimulating and, if used, 
will produce the "die back" and other calamities on young 
growing tiees. 

We believe the theory is not a good one, and that the 
disease of the trees may be traced to other causes, such as 
bad locations, w^et, soggy soil, the action of wind and rain 
storms, moss and fungoid growths, etc. However others 
may regard these heating manures, we have seen the best 
of effects from their use, and shall cootiiiue to run the risk 
till otherwise convinced. 

OTHER 'helps. 

One of the grealtst helps in the successful cultivation 
of a young orange grove, is a flock of fowls. The small 
breeds which have a disposition to range, like the Ham- 
burgs or Leghorns, are undoubtedly tlie best. They will 
clean out the grasshoppers, worms, butterflies, slugs, moles, 
small snakes, lizards, toads, frogs, and every other crawl- 
ing, flying and hopping thing which is not too formidable 
for them to cope with. We have a flock of fifty, which 
have the range of our home grove of seven acres, and it is 
amusing to see these lively creatures range over the field 
in pursuit of insects and other animal food. Hardly afoot 
of the field but what is scoured over every day ; and be' 
sides, they destroy a vast amount of grass and weeds ;ind 
obnoxious things generally. They will pay iheir way 
better than any other stock. 

A flock of turkeys would very likely be better, because 
their proclivities for ranging are proverbial. But then it 



21 

would require a high fence to keep them anywhere in 
bounds. Any kind of fowls are useful in an orange grove 
and should be employed wherever practicable. 

SOME DRAWBACKS. 

One of the greatest drawbacks to the Northern settler 
in Florida is the fence laws. These laws seem to have 
been enacted for the special protection and encouragement 
of the " cracker " and " squatter," who own or work but 
little land, own from one to a dozen head of cattle, five to 
ten ho^s, and pay little or no taxes. These animals, 
according to law, are allowed to run at large and range 
wherever they list, and the settler who cares to raise any 
crop or keep his grove free from depredations, must " fence 
them out." No redress for grievances of any kind, and as 
fencing material soon rots out in this climate, the expense 
of keeping fences " hog proof and stallion high" amounts 
to no inconsiderable sum. We hope and trust when our 
legislature meets, they will see the wisdom of curtailing 
this perfect freedom of range, or the " hoggish" part of it 
at least. A very good practice prevails in some portions of 
the State. A neighborhood or community make laws for 
their own protection in the hog business. They agree 
among themselves to keep up fences sufficient to turn cat- 
tle, and the hogs found strolling about are made into pork 
on sight. Hogs are not prevalent to any great extent in 
such communities, and we liopo to see the same regulations 
carried into effect in other localities. It has been asserted 
to us by individuals that the damage done to crops every 
year, in some portions of Florida, by hogs and cattle being 
allowed a free range, is more than the actual wtjrth of the 
animals. To the new settler, it is a sore grievance and one 
of the greatest set-backs to the settlement of the country. 



22 

The fence laws as now in vogue ami understood are a pro- 
lific source of coolness and contention among neighh )rs, and 
lead to the commission of matiy crinies ; and we believ(^ 
several murders in the State have been committed fi-oin 
feuds growing out of the 8an:>e. Wy hope our next legis 
lature will remedy the evil. 

THE FKORT LINE 

Much has been written, said and sung in regaid to 
the "frost line" and the "orange belt ' in Florida. There 
is no portion of Florida where frost has not been (observed 
sometimes; but except in the year '85, we have never heard 
of any particular damage by frost below the twenty-seventh 
parallel of latitude, and but seldom has it occurred below 
the twenty-eighth. About the twenty-eighth to tne Geor- 
gia line, there are moie or lesri cold waves during the 
winter, and in many localitie* considerable damage is done 
to orange trees, and sometijues the cold is severe enough to 
injure the fruit. In 1870 71 many young trees were killed 
to the ground and large quantities of fruit was frozen solid 
on the trees. The same thing occurred in 1876-7, but the 
freeze was not so general nor severe in some localities as 
in others. The cold wave seemed to go in streaks, and w\as 
very severe in all the counties lying along the 8t. Johns 
from the Georgia line to Brevard. It was very severe in 
many localities in Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Volusia and 
Orange. In Duval, where the writer resides, it occurred 
only in particular localities. Some groves below, about and 
above Jacksonville, were hardly sinsed. The writer lost 
three hundred young trees (they were not protected), w^hile 
his neighbors close by did not receive a scratch. And so it 
seemed to travel, touching here and there, as far sonth as 
Lake Jessup. Even in that year many oranges were frozen 



23 

'O!! the trees. We remember at the State fair in Jackson- 
ville, in 1877, the only oran^^es on exhibition that had been 
frozen were grown in a county, more than one hundred 
miles due south of Jacksonville, and the orange that 
took the first premium for quality, was grown two miles 
below Jacksonville. We might cite many other instances 
to prove that there is no such thing as the "orange belt " 
and ^' below the frost line," except in the brain of interested 
parties. There will be occasional failures from frost in 
nearly all sections of the State which are habita))ie, and 
parties wishing to locate need not be alarmed b}'- the bag- 
bear stories of land speculators. 

YARIETIES. 

A gentleman last winter, while conversing about vari • 
eties of the orange, said : '' There is no orange grown in 
Florida that is not merchantable." He was a stickler for 
seedlings, having a large grove of those '* varieties." The 
same might be said in regard to apples, pears and potatoes > 
but that there are some varieties of oranges better than 
others, more jxilatable, better shape, better size, better ship- 
ping qualities, etc., no one who has had much experience 
in handling oranges will pretend to deny. 

The writer h:is been one of the committee on nomen- 
clature of ti; '. I'fuit Grower-' Association, and one of the 
judges on fruit at all the State "fairs which have been held 
in Florida, and has had fruit under consideration from all 
parts of the vState, and under the circumstances believes he 
can name varieties which will i:ive general satisfaction. 
We would advise by all ni'ans that the young grove be 
planted with budded varieties. While planting, the better 
varieties may as well be obtained and set, as the ordinary 
kinds. 



24 

In the coming future, oranges will, like apples, pear^: 
and other fruits he marketed hy specific names, and only 
the best known varieties will have any standing with the 
public. Such being the fact, it behooves those engaged in 
the business to possess, as far as possible, the best varieties 
now known. 

For the convenience of those interested, we will sfive a 
short description of a few named varieties, which have 
received the sanction of the Fruit Growers' Association of 
Florida, and will name them in the order of excellence. 

Magnum Bonum. — Size large to very large ; color, 
clear light orange; Skin thin, smooth and glossy; pulp 
fine, tender, melting, juicy, sweet and vinous. 

Homosassa. — Medium size, skin very thiti. remarkably 
smooth and satiny ; color, bright ; pulp very fine, remark- 
ably juicy, sweet, vinous and fine flavor. 

Nonpareil. — Size above medium; bright col.ir; skin 
thin, pulp tender and melting; juice sub-acid and vinous. 

Old Vini, — Size above medium ; color, dark orauore ; 
skin rather rough, medium ; pulp rather coarse, juicy, sweet 
and remarkable for a sprightly aromatic flavor. 

Navel. — Size large to very large : skin rough, rathei* 
thick and tough; pulp very fine, melting, tinider, juicy, 
sweet and good flavor ; valuable for late ripening and 
carrying qualities. ^ 

Tardif. — Large dark orange; skin smooth and 'hin ; 
pulp rather tough, grain fine, juicy and sweet ; an ordinary 
orange, but valuable on account of its late ripening 
qualities. 

Arcadia. — Size large, color deep, skin smooth, medium; 
pulp deep rich color, coarse, melting, juicy and sub-acid. 



25 

Sweet Seville. — Small, color dark, skin thin, pulp very 
line, juicy, melting, and very sweet and sprightly. 

Mandarin, or Tangerine, Kid Glove — Medium or 
i^mall size, color dark orange ; skin medium, irregularly 
ribbed, flattened or tomato shaped ; pulp coarse, readily 
parting from the skin, and the sections also part readily 
from each other ; juicy, sweet and highly aromatic This 
orange is becoming very populixr as a table fruit on ac- 
count of the ease with which the pulp may be got at with- 
out soiling the hands. This orange is known in Florida 
under the cognomen of Tangerine, but is undoubtedly the 
old Mandarin. There are several seedling varieties, one 
of the best of which we ever saw was exhibited last winter 
at the State fair by Doctor Wall, of Tampa. 

Sugar Sweet. — Small, globular, smooth, thin skin, pulp 
fine, tender, juicy, very sweet and delicious. A beautiful 
little orange, called sometimes the " picnic orange '' on 
account of its size and the number which will go in a box. 
Tree said to be very prolific. Every grove should contain 
a few trees or variety, and on account of its early ripening 
October), and for the excellence or its fruit. 

^ Satsuma. — A native of the island of Kiusiu, Japan, 
and named after <»ne of the chief cities of that island by 
request of Mrs. General Van Valkenburg 

The trees of this variety and species were introduced 
into Florida by Dr. George R. Hall in 187(5 and also by 
Mis. Van Valkenburg in 1878. Th<.^ trees were imported 
direct from Japan. 

The variety belongs to the loose rinded species, Citru.s 
Aurantium Japonimim. The fruit is medium size, flat- 
tened, deep orange color, smooth thin skin, which is sweet. 



26 

aromatic and easily detatched from the pulp. Color «tf 
pulp dark orange ; segments part freely; fine grain, tender, 
juicy, sweet and delicious. There is none of that peculiar 
rank odor which characterizes most other varieties belong- 
ing to the same class and species. The tree is thornless, the 
leaves peculiarly thick, lanciolate, serrated, medium, pit- 
iole linear, and the fruit is seedless. 

The fruit of this variety will doubtless take high rank 
for the table and dessert. We regard it a rare and 
desirable acquisition. 

Pkillips' Bitter Sweet. — Large, thin skin, pulp tender, 
juicy, sub-acid, slightly bitter and aromatic. Doubtless a 
hybrid of the wild and sweet orange. Among other good 
features, the tree is thornless. . An excellent summer fruit. 
A few trees should be in every well regulated grove. 

Dummit. — Large, bright, juicj , sweet, sugary ; a first 
class orange, except the skin is thin and tender, which 
renders it difficult to ship, 

Dixon. — Fine large orange, first-class, good shipper. 

Spratfs Harmon. — Excellent every way. Said to be 
very prolific. 

Parson Brown. — Large, sweet, juicy, fine. Said to be 
excellent. 

Higgins. — Medium, fair ; skin smooth and thin ; pulp 
fine, juicy, sweet and excellent. This variety was awarded 
the first premium at the fair last winter for quality. 

Mediterranean Sweet. — This variety has not yet been 
fruited in this State. It is described as large, bright, thin 
skin, juicy, sweet and delicious, and highly commended for 
its earliness, prolific bearing, and from the fact that its 
branches are thornless. This one fact alone would be a 



27 

good reconnneDd. It comes to us from California and is 
regarded as the very best, or one of the best. 

There are many other varieties of the orange which are 
considered "the best," by those who grow them, and in the 
vicinity of their h^cality. Some of them are undoubtedly 
above the average, but when exhibited side by side and 
compared and tested with some we have named, prove to 
be only ordinary. Many foreign varieties are being prop- 
agated now, and we may find in some of them fruit supe- 
rior to our present stock, but we do not look for any such 
event. 

PRUNING. 

But very little pruning seems uecessary in cultivating 
the orange tree, especially if you wish low-headed trees. 
It ii better to let them grow about as they list for the first 
three or four years, except pulling off the water sprouts as 
they appear, and keeping the tree in a symmetrical form. 
Trees headed low shield the trunk in frosty weather, and 
when they commence bearing the fruit is more easily 
reached ; and besides, in case of wind storms, the tree^and 
fruit are less likely to suffer injury than trees which are 
trimmed high. An orange tree will seldom bear when 
growing in a'compact upward form ; but will bear soon, 
when the branches begin to extend laterally ; hence, trees 
which have a tendency to go skyward should be topped 
and caused to spread out their arms laterally. 

CULTURE OF MATURE GROVES. 

When the orange tree has reached the bearing age, the 
treatment may be varied from that which was necessary 
during its rapid growth. It will be remembered that the 
employment of nitrogenous manures was highly com- 



28 

mended, such as stable manure, dissolved bone, fish guan(^ 
dried blood, etc.. composte 1 with muck. But such stimu- 
lating articles are no longer necessary, except in so far as 
to keep up the steady growth of the tree and furnish food 
for wood growth. It will be noticed that after a liberal 
application of stable manure, or cow-penning the soil, the 
trees put on an extraordinary growth, and if fruiting at 
the same time, the fruit will be large, coarse, rough, taste- 
less and watery, and will show very few of the character- 
istics which it presented under different treatment of 
the trees. 

The best fertilizer for a bearing grove is fine ground 
bone, with the addition of ashes or muriate of potash, or a 
light dressing of common salt. The soil should be fre- 
quently stirred with the cultivatoi- throughout the season. 
Muck, well decomp()s^■d, is always in order, and every 
three or four years a good dressing of oyster-shell lime, say 
half a bushel to a tree, will be very beneficial. From eight 
to ten pounds of raw ground bone, scattered broadcast 
around each tree and well harrowed in. will furnish phos- 
phorus sufficient to last four or five years. It is slowly 
decomposed by coming in contact with carbonic acid gas, 
which is generated in the soil by the decomposition of veg- 
etable substances, and in this way furnishes an abundance 
of phosphorus for the wants of the trees. Potash requires 
to be applied more frequently, as a superabundance of that 
material, dissolved by the rains, and what is not appropri- 
ated by the roots, washes down out of r* ach of the feeding' 
roots; hence it should be applied oftener, and in smaller 
quantities, say about two pounds to each large tree, annu- 
ally. The required amount of these nor-organic elements 



29 

to keep up a healthy growth of tree and fruit, varies with 
tlie consistence of -different soils. 

The treatment here recommended applies to light 
sandy soils without bottom ; but where th^e soil consists 
partly of clay, or has a clay subsoil, a much smaller quan- 
tity of any manureal substance will be required. The 
clay holds the inorganic elements, and the roots take them 
up as needed. The leaves which fall from the tree and 
decompose m\ the soil, furnishes sufficient plant food to 
keep the tree in a Fpass«.bly healthy condition ; but if you 
wish an abundance of fruit, you must feed your trees 
accordingly. 

CARE OF THE TREES. 

The trees should have every attention in order to keep 
them healthy, and in good condition to furnish annual 
crops of fruit. All superfluous wood and twigs on the 
inner branches should be carefully removed in order to 
admit light and air to the center of the tree. 

Cobwebs and all collections of debri*^ should be 
brushed away, and the truik and branches brushed over 
with the soap and soda solution mentioned heretofore, and 
the tree entire showered completely over with the same 
solution. This application should be made once a year, 
before the trees bloom. It not only cleans the trees from 
moss and dirt, but has a tendency to free them from insects; 
the scale in particular, and besides the soda solution acts as 
a powerful fertilizer by dissolving materials inert in the 
soil and converting them into plant food. 

DISEASE OF ORANGE TREES. 

The orange tree, as a rule, is not subject to many dis- 
eases. If the proper soil and conditions are present, the 
tree will continue to grow, remain healthy and vigorous, 
and live to a good old age, even centuries. We are of the 



30 

opinion that to location and soil may be attributed all the 
diseases to which the tree is subject. 

" DIE-BACK," AND "GUM-DISEASE." 

In many localities a disease is somewhat prevalent, 
which, for want of a better name, and as it describes in a 
measure the characteristics, has received the above cogno- 
men. The principal symptom is the issue of gum through 
the bark, and its collection in tears or drops on the surface. 
The gum disease may develop in any portion of the tree 
and branches, but it usually makes its appearance through 
solitary rapid growing shoots, and at the collar of the tree 
near the surface of the ground, but makes its appearance 
in every part of the diseased tree if the bark is cut or 
wounded. Of the cause but little is known. It is un- 
doubtedly a disease of faulty nutrition. It is very preva- 
lent in Louisiana and in many localities in Florida. The 
disease is met with more frequently in soils which are low 
and composed largely of humus, and especially where 
underlaid with a ferruginous clay hard-pan. It is believed 
that the rich soggy soil contains elements not well calcu- 
lated for the healthful condition of the trees. Acidity of 
the soil is probably the cause, and lime and potash is the 
remedy. Better locate your grove where no such condi- 
tions exist. 

It has been observed that insects are uiore likely to 
attack trees which are diseased. Whether there is a differ- 
ence in the consistence of the sap. or whether, like the 
human family, they manifest a disposition to kick the indi- 
vidual on the down-hill road and help him along, is not so 
patent ; but sure it is that a diseased orange tree attracts 
more bugs, spideis, scale and other abominations than a 



31 

carcass does buzzards. The effects of the disease have 
often been mistaken for the causeij. The sap is not properly 
manufactured bj the roots ; the laboratory below has not 
the right kind of material to work up a healthy circulating 
medium, — hence, the leaves do not elaborate the sap into 
the proper elements for wood growth, and the result is pale, 
succulent, rapid growing sprouts, which contain a dispro- 
portion of gum and glucose. These unhealthy growths, 
not being able to resist the effects of the sun's rays, often 
blister and crack ; the sap oozes out, dries on the surface 
in the form of tears, which are sweet and succulent, and 
thereby attract all sorts of insects and ants. These sprouts 
not having the elements necessary for healthy branches, 
often wither and die back to the part of the tree from 
which they started ; hence, we have the "die-back" and the 
" gum disease" all in one. The cause is undoubtedly at 
the root ; the efficts dyspepsia, from defective or pernicious 
plant food ; the remedy, proper location, cultivation and a 
potash, soda and lime diet. 

The same dyspeptic symptoms in the tree, may some- 
times be produced by over feeding, or a surfeit of rich ni- 
trogenous manure, but we think such instances are rare, 
and the disease more likely to occur from too much acidity 
in the soil. 

RUST ON THE OEANGE. 

Although rust on the rind of an orange is not consid- 
ered detrimental to the qualities of the fruit, yet it detracts 
from its external appearance wonderfully, and reduces its 
market value in a corresponding degree. 

There has been much speculation as to the cause of 
this abnormal condition, and the experiments of investiga- 



32 

tors have not yet determined the whys and the wherefores^ 
Some individuals are of the opinion that it is caused 
hy the punctures of insects — the orange mite — through the 
outer rind intr^the oil cells, thereby causing the oil U> 
ooze out and spread over the nod, which oxidizes and pro- 
duces the stain as we find it. Others think it is caused 
wholly by the excretions of microscopic insects; while 
others still, maintain that it is natural rUst of a fungoid 
character. Our investigations, which have been rather 
extensive and thorough, leads to the belief that the rust is 
the result of both the workings of insects and a fungus. 

It is noticeable that the rust seldom covers the entire 
rind. Sometimes one side only is stained ; sometimes a ring 
extending around the middle, and sometimes only a spot 
or specks will appear. When in the way of observation, 
it has been found that the orange is green and smooth up 
to half its natural size. Then a smooth, light colored sub- 
stance would appear in places, or over a portion of the surf- 
ace of the fruit, seeming like the light gjary trail left by a 
snail. Examination of portions of the rind at this time 
with the microscope, has revealed the presence of minute 
insects, and also the presence of the ordinary orange scale. 
The light glary substance was found evenly spread over 
portions of the surface, corresponding to the rusty surface, 
which subsequently appeared. Subsequent examinations 
with the microscope revealed minute fungus spread over 
the entire surface of those bands and patches covered by 
the glary substance. These occurrences leads to the belief 
that the light glary substance seen on the rind was a secre- 
tion of the insects, which remains and forms a fit lodging 
place for the spores of fungi to develop. 

What confirms us more strongly in the belief that in- 



33 

sects are at the bottom of the mischief, is, that of all the 
fruit examiDed which was rusty, not a single specimen 
could be found that did not show the presence of scale on 
the fruit or branches of the tree. Another fact still more 
favorable to the insect hypothesis, is this : In the year 
1879, the scale insect prevailed to a fearful extent, and the 
orange crop was as fearfully rusty, while this year, the scale 
has not made such astonishing havoc, and the orange crop 
was never brighter, or presented a more healthy appear- 
ance. 

In regard to a remedy for rust on the orange we have 
none to offer, except that the trees should be so cultured as 
to keep them properly healthy, and such appliances used 
as to rid the trees of the scale insect This we believe is 
the only remedy. In regard to other appliances, such as 
lime dust, kerosene and the like, there is no hope except as 
they may be the means of getting rid of the universal 
pest. 

SPLITTING OF THE ORANGE. 

During the later growing months of the orange, from 
July to November, the rind of the fruit sometimes cracks, 
exposing the segments of the interior to the weather, and 
the fruit soon decays and drops from the stem. Sometimes 
but few fruits are so affected ; sometimes many. Some 
trees seem worse than others standing in the immediate 
vicinity, and some seasons none are lost from this cause. 

The cause has generally been attributed to a season of 
drowth, followed by excessive wet, thereby causing the pulp 
to grow faster than the rind, which, not being able to with- 
stand the pressure from withiu, splits ; and hence the 
result. 

The present season has been one prolific in split fruit > 



84 

and yet, there has been no unusual drowth, nor bus there 
been a lack of moisture, especially during the months of 
September, October and November. Many oranges have 
split and fell all through the season, even up to late in 
November, and it has been noticed that trees standing on 
low gronnd, where plenty of moisture was always at hand, 
have been affected equally with those growing on high, dry 
soil. Our observations leads to the belief that the cause of 
splitting of the orange is not well understood, and that the 
theory generally accepted has but little foundation in fact 
More light on this important subject is desirable, and we 
hope more attention will be given the subject in the future, 
and that the cause and the cure may be fully ascertained. 
Many thousands of oranges are lost every year by this 
strange, unnatural phenomenon. 

INSECTS. 

There are many insects which are more or less injuri* 
ous to the welfare and successful cultivation nf an orange 
grove. Among the many, the grasshopper plays a conspic- 
uous part. They exist in countless thousands, and live by 
devouring the leaves of the trees, and young succulent 
shoots. There are several varieties which prey upon the 
leaves; but perhaps the meanest of all the tribe is the 
green, flying insect, commonly known as the Katy-did. 
These creatures will destroy and mutilate about as 
great an amount of leaves as the silk worm, and accom- 
plish the task in an incredible short space of time. The 
common brown grasshoppers are also numerous, but not so 
ravenous as the Katys. 

The only effectual remed}' are the birds and a flock oj' 
fowls. These useful helps are to be highly commended, and 
should receive every encouragement to do their duty, by 



35 

not feeding them much of anything except what they get 
in the range. It will '^not do to feed fowls ranch if you 
wish them to do their duty in an orange grove. 

The orange dog is a large spotted worm, the larvae of 
a very large spotted black and gold butterfly. They prey 
upon the orange leaves, and should be destroyed by hand 
picking. 

Termites, or white ants, commonly called wood lice, 
are very destructive to the orange trees. They are to be 
found under old wood, logs and rubbish. They frequently 
attack the orange tree at the collar, just under the surface 
of the soil, and eat the bark entirely away, completely 
girdling the tree at the roots, which is fatal. 

Dig around the trees occasionally in search of them, 
and if found at their work, disturb their quarters ; show 
them to your chickens, and they will devour the last one 
of them. If you have no fowls, dig out their nest and 
apply the soda solution, or some hot suds. Remove old 
wood, brush, and mulching from the trees, as these form a 
convenient harbor for them. 

ORANGE SCALE. 

Perhaps no other subject on orange culture is of 
greater iraportuiice than the one at the head of this para- 
graph. The scale insect or bark louse has never until re- 
C3ntly received much attention ; but the people have now 
become thoroughly aroused to its importance, and the 
Agricultural Department at Washington, has commissioned 
its entomologist, to study the species, their habits and de- 
velopment. Prof J. H. Comstock, the entomologist, has 
spent nearly a year in Florida and California in this inves- 
tigation, and has succeeded in classifying about fifteen 



36 

species which are injurious to fruit trees aii<l other plants, 
several of which are to be found on the citrus fruits. 

It is not the purpose of this little work to go exten- 
sively into the history, habits and description of the scale 
insects, injurious to the orange, but it is enough to say that 
they exist in countless mil'ions, and that scarcely a grove 
or tree is to be found which has not more or less of these 
pests among its leaves, fruit or branches. 

They attach themselves to the bark of the leaves and 
branches, or rind of the fruit, and live by sucuing the 
juice from the tree. They multiply very fast, and a few 
individuals finding lodgement on a tree will soon cover its 
entire surface if no means are employed to lessen their 
numbers. 

For a description of the scale insects, their classifica- 
tion and habits, the reader is referred to the writings of 
Prof. Comstock, Dr. C. J. Kenworthy and VV. H. Ash- 
mead. These gentlemen have investigated the subject 
thoroughly and given a minute and graphic description of 
these miserable little nuisances. When a tree has become 
affected with scale to any great extent, it soon takes on « 
sickly appearance. The leaves, which were a dark shining 
green before, now look sallow and pale ; the trunk and 
branches which were smooth and lively, are rough and 
shriveled, and the bark looks as though it was drawn 
tightly over the wood ; in fact the tree has the appearance 
of being *' hide bound," and ceases to grow almost entirely. 
The business of the fruit grower is now to rid his trees of 
the scale, renovate the trees. 'and cause them to begin life 
anew. 



37 

REMEDIES. 

The scale insect has become such a nuisance and so' 
difficult to destroy, that many remedies have been pres- 
€ribed for its extermination. Hardly any two individuals 
agree on the best thing for the purpose, consequently we 
shall mention a number which have been recommended. 

The soap and soda solution mentioned on a former 
page has given the best results in our hands, and we believe 
if persisted in, will entirely eradicate and exterminate them 
from the grove. Besides being an excellent insecticide, it 
benefits the tree in various ways ; removes old bark, washes 

1 he leaves from honey dew and smut, kills the bugs, and 
stimulates the tree into activity, and causes it to look green 
and healthy. 

It should be applierl as directed, every three or four 
weeks, until the scale is entirely eradicated. 

Kerosene has been highly extalled. It is dangerous 
to apply in its undiluted state, but is sure death to the bugs. 
To a strong solution of any kind of soap, add one gill of 
kerosene to a bucket full of the suds. Mix thoroughly 
by stirring and apply with a brush to the trunk, and with 
a syringe to top and branches. Stir the mixture often 
while using. 

Strong solution of whale oil soap is an excellent ap- 
plication, especially to young trees and those in the nursery. 
Use it often. 

Vinegar or acetic acid, diluted, is said to be an effect- 
ual remedy. 

Carbolic acid, largely diluted, has proved efficacious. 

Tobacco decoction is used by many. 

Many other applicatious have been recommended ; in 



S8 

short, almost every man jou meet knows the best one, a'fl 
it is sure to differ in some respects f r m all others. 

Remedies for the destruction of scale, are as numeroutr 
as are those for the cure of rheumatism. All are good and 
if persevered in will result in success. 

The best general remedy for scale, is, to keep your 
trees in vigorous health by thorough fertilization and cul- 
tivation. Stir the soil often with the cultivator or hoe ; 
keep down the weeds and grass and your grove will not 
require so many remedies to exterminate the insects. 

We believe there are few other insects that require 
much attention. Squash bugs, thrip, ants and green flies 
are only attracted by the secretions of insects, or the exu- 
dation of sweet fluids from the leaves or branches, and teh 
collection of honey-dew on the leaves. 

The "mealy bug," is very destructive, but it is classed 
with the coecid(je, and the same remedies will exterminate 
the mealy bug that are used for other scale, if thoroughly 
applied, and often. Vinegar is used to destroy this pest in 
many countries of the East, with very good - uccess. 

There are a few other insects which attack the fruit 
and leaves, such as the red bug, which punctures the fruit 
in some instances and localities ; the leaf notcher and the 
leaf roller ; but these do not damage to any great extent, 
and as there are no remedies except hand-picking we pass 
them over as nuisances. 

BAllREN FRUIT TilEES. 

In old orchards of fruit of any kind may be found 
trees which seem to grow thriftly, are mature and of bear- 
ing age, yet seldom produce any fruit. The ame will be 
found U) occur on all soils and situations, and among all 



39 

kinds aud varieties of fruit. It is true that some kinds of 
fruit trees and some varieties of the same kind, are more 
subject to barrenness than others ; but the facts remain, 
and no satisfactory explanation has yet been promulgated. 
The phenomena has been attributed to many causes by 
various authors who have experimented and written on the 
.subject, but scarcely any two of them ascribe the fault to 
the same conditions. 

The orange tree is no exception to the general rule, 
and many large trees, which are aged and thrifty may be 
found scattered about in most groves, and solitary, which 
have produced little or no fruit and failed to perform the 
important fuucti(ms which nature intended them to fullfill. 

Many remedies have been recommended to cure the 
evil by those who have given it much attention, such as 
root pruning, summer pruning, bending down the branches 
below the horizontal to check the flow of sap upwards ; 
girdling and debarking. The first, is attended with a vast 
amount of labor, besides it has a tendency to destroy in a 
measure the equilibrium and vitality of the tree. The sec- 
ond, h impracticable to any great extent, or when applied 
to large trees. The third remedy "girdling," seems the 
most rational and practical ; is attended with little incon- 
venience ; is sure to accomplish the object, and is not likel}^ 
to compromise the life or usefulness of the tree ; although 
it has a tendency to dwarf it somewhat. 

The practice of girdling to produce fruitfulness in bar- 
ren trees, and also to bring into early bearing and ripening, 
of the fruit on young trees, has been employed by pomo- 
logists, frequently, for the last one hundred years, but not ' 
until recently has the method come into extensive use for 
the purpose. Home of the extensive fruit growers of the 



40 

West are using this metho'l to bring their young trees into 
early bearing with astonishing success. 

One gentleman, a Mr. Spaulding, of Illinois, has an 
apple grove of fourteen thousand trees, and has been ex- 
periraenting with "girdling" to produce early fruitfulness 
and large and fine fruit, with such success, that last year, 
he girdled three thousand trees in his young grove. A 
writer, who visited his place recently, describes the result as 
wonderful — astonishing. 

Alteniate rows of young unbearing trees were girdled 
in June, 1879, and this year they are loaded to the ground 
with large, fine fruit, while trees along side of them not 
girdle 1, had little or no fruit on. 

The effect of girdling is twofold. When early bear- 
ing is desired, the ring of bark should be removed while 
the tree is growing, the year before. When increase in size 
of fruit and early ripening is the object sought, girdling 
should be performed the same year, after the fruit is set. 

The operation of "girdling" consists in removfug a 
ring of bark from one to three-eighths of an inch wide 
entirely around the trunk of the tree, or large branches. 
It^may be performed with a knife, or saw with the teeth 
set w"Ide; but the neatest, cutest and most effectual little 
implement for the business, is a tool used by mill and 
lumbermen for the purpose of marking lumber. This little 
instrument is handy to use ; does its work neatly, and 
makes a clean cut one-eighth of an inch wide down to the 
wood. 

There is every reason to believe thg.t the practice of 
girdling on the orange tree, will prove as successful in its 
results as it has in regard to apple, pear, peach, grape and 
other fruits, and those w^ho have recalcitrant orange trees, 
which are a way along up in theii- ''teens," or out of rhem 



41 

in regard to age, and refuse to produce liberally, can bring 
them to a realizing sense of their duty by the process in 
question 

Objections will be raised to the practice, undoubtedly, 
as being unnatural and all that, but the same may be said 
of many other pomologieal experiments, which have 
resulted in success. 

Let us live, in a measure, for the present, and enjoy 
the fruits of our labors as we go along, and not work and 
wait through life for the benefit wholly of our grand- 
children. 

Those who wish to try the experiment of girdling, and 
are a little doubtful about its utility, and liability to harm 
the trees for future usefulness, may begin on some of the 
lower branches of the tree, which, if the operation should 
not succeed to their satisfaction, need to be cut away in the 
future. In that way no harm wall have been done, if the 
process turns out unfavorable. 

Another method of girdling, or which amounts to the 
same thing in its results, is performed by ligating the body 
of the tree or branches, by winding tightly around the 
part to be girdled, a few coils of copper or other wire so 
tight that the return flow of sap will be effectually impe- 
ded. By this last process the bark is not mutilated, but 
where it is thoroughly done the effects are about the same. 
8ome pomologists recommend excessive fertilizing ; enrich- 
ing the soil by cow-penning and by applying large quan- 
tities of other rich manures during the winter months, con- 
tending that in this way both fruit buds and wood growth 
may be had at the same time, and the "bearing and off- 
year" habits of trees dispensed with. 

The practice may be good, on very p(^or land, but fruit 
produced by excessive fertilization, is generally coarse, 



42 

insipid and unsatisfactory. Girdling the orange tree, to 
produce fruit next year, should be performed from June to 
September ; and to produce large fruit and early ripen- 
ing, the same year in April, after the young fruit is set. 

OTHER CITRUS FRUITS. 

In former pages the remarks were confined wholly to 
the cultivation of the orange. While the orange is to be 
regarded the principal fruit to be depended on for profit, 
yet other species of the citrus family may be cultivated 
for profit, ornament or curiosity. 

LEMONS. 

The lemon is a more tender plant than the orange, and 
tnerefore, in its cultivation, more regard must be paid to 
location in order to shield the trees from cold. In all 
other respects the lemon should be treated the same as the 
orange, except that it requires less rich .'oil and less fertili- 
zation. The lemon is a rampant grower, and has a tend- 
ency to straggle, w^ithout any regard to symmetry in its 
shape. Light sandy land, not over rich, seems best adapted 
for the lemon, because if the soil is rich in plant food the 
tree grows rapidly and unshapely, the ^vood is soft and suc- 
culent, and a light frost while in this condition will cut 
young trees to the ground, and materially damage older 
ones. 

The tree matures several years earlier than the orange, 
and the first crops are likely to yield large specimens of 
fruit, which have thick rind and often spongy and coarse 
pulp. These characteristics will gradually disappear as 
the tree grows in years, when the fruit will become of 
ordinary size and quality. 

The best lemons are those weighing about two and a 



43 

half to three ounces ; thin skin, oval shape ; few seeds, 
solid pulp, strong acid juice; sweet rind and highly aro- 
matic. Lemons which are large, thick skin, spongy pulp 
and bitter rind, are not marketable ; hence it is better to 
procure trees budded with fruit of known and tried quali- 
ties than to trust to seedlings, as they often turn out to be 
worthless. 

A statement has lately been going the rounds to the 
effect that in the gathering of lemons for market, a lemon 
was ripe enough to gather when it was large enough ; that 
is, when it had arrived at a certain size. It has generally 
been understood that leaves have their time to fall, and 
fruits a Beaeon of maturity ; and we question whether a 
lemon gathered green, although of a certain size, possesses 
all the qualities requisite in a perfect fruit. The theory 
may hold in trees of old age, and among that variety 
which are said to be ever bearing, but it is open to doubt. 

The lemon tree is too uncertain in Florida, on account 
of its sensitiveness to cold, to warrant extensive planting, 
except in very favored localities ; and besides, the profita 
are likely to be less than the orange, from the fact that 
large quantities are imported at prices which are not con- 
sidered remunerative as compared with the orange. 

However, a few trees should be planted in the most 
favored localities about the premises, in regard to the cold 
waves, and moderately fertilized and pruned, to produce 
the best results. 

LIMES. 

The next fruit in importance to the lemon is the lime. 
The tree or bush is still more sensitive to cold than the 
lemon, and requires more care in exposed situations. The 
fruit is generally small, tender rind, and does not bear 



44 

transportation very well ; hence but little attention has 
been given to its cultivation. It is very wholesoQie, strongly 
acid ; in fact, is said to contain a greater amount of citric 
acid than the lemon, and is preferred to that fruit by some. 
A few trees, or rather bushes, are all that is requisite. 

CITRON. 

The citron is a large fruit, having all the character- 
istics of the lemon, and chiefly cultivated for its very thick 
rind, which is preserved in sugar and forms the well known 
sweet meat to be found in the shops, under the name of 
" preserved citron." There are several varieties, some of 
which possess a very bitter rind ; those having a sweet rind 
are to be preferred. A tender shrub or bush. 

SHADDOCK. 

This is generally a large fruit, varying from two to 
eight pounds in weight. Globular, white or pink pulp, 
seedy, juicy and disagreeably sour. The pink variety is 
the largest. Useful only when other fruits cannot be had, 
and as a curiosity. A tender bush or shrub. 

BERGAMOT. 

A hybrid of the orange and lemon. Small, yellow or 
orange in color, thick skin, juicy, sour sweet and flavorless. 
Cultivated chiefly for the oil, which is distilled from the 
rind, and is known in perfumery as "oil of bergamot." A 
tender bush. 

KUMQUAT. 

This is a dwarf, thornless variety of the orange. P'ruit 
very small, oval, deep orange color, skin thin and sweet ; 
pulp tender and juice very acid. Tree ornamental and 
useful as a conserve. 



45 

The above includes about all of the citrus which are 
desirable, and all but the lemon, lime and kumquat, are 
more ornamental than useful. 

The wild orange is useful in the manufacture of mar- 
malade, and some attempts have been made to utilize the 
citron for a conserve, but without any satisfactory result as 
far as we have seen, the product being flavorless and 
insipid. 

The Florida lemon is another fruit easily grown. It 
is large, orange color when ripe ; rough, thick, spongy 
rind ; sometimes bitter ; juice acid but flavorless. The 
tree or shrub is a rampant grower, but tender like other 
lemons. Nursery-men sometimes use the seedlings as a 
stock for budding the sweet orange ; and if budded low, 
the trees grow rapidly and come into bearing much earlier 
than when budded on orange stock. 

Cost and Profits of Orange Culture. 

So much has been written on the cost of starting an 
orange grove, and the profits to be realized from the sale 
of the fruit when it begins to bear, that it is with a good 
deal of reluctance we broach the subject. Those who have 
written heretofore, usually have presented the rosy side of 
the picture, and forget to record the failures, the disap- 
pointments and other contingencies ; hence, many fanciful 
stories have been told, which are calculated to mislead the 
unwary, and bring into contempt the honest statements and 
facts which govern the case. Extreme cases are pointed 
out, and the stranger is made to believe it is no exception 
to the general rule. 

An orange tree will bear when it has arrived at ma- 
turity, which is usually -if all the conditions have been 
favorable — from the eighth to the fifteenth year from the 



seed. Some varieties, or the seed from certain trees, will 
reach the bearing age years before the seed from other 
trees. This fact is not confined to the orange tree, but is a 
well known physiological occurrence in both the vegetable 
and animal kingdoms. We often see in an orange grove 
ten years of age, a few trees which have more or less 
fruit on ; while the rest of the trees, seemingly just as large 
and healthy, have none at all. We are often told that 
after a tree has borne its first fruit, it will continue to dou- 
ble its yield every year for a long time. This statement is 
not true, as every one knows who has much knowledge of 
the laws which govern the vegetable kingdom. Trees are 
very likely to preserve the old routine of bearing and ofl' 
bearing years, in spite of all the theories and remedies 
which can be brought to bear. 

Some groves, if properly cared for, will come into 
profitable bearing at ten and twelve years ; while others, 
similarly situated, will not bear in less than from twelve to 
fifteen years. 

Land suitable for orange culture may be had at from 
one dollar and a quarter to one hundred dollars per acre, 
according to locatio'n and other contingencies. Cleared 
laud from five to one hundred dollars. Labor for seventj - 
five cents to one dollar per day. Five year old trees, 
twenty-five to fifty dollars per hundred. Good, budded 
to the best varieties, thrifty trees, for fifty dollars per 
hundred. 

A grove of five acres, — five hundred trees, — if properly 
cared for, fertilized, fenced and pruned, will cost at the 
least calculation one thousand dollars, and it may cost 
much more at the end of five years. Orange graves do 
not grow by magic, neither are they purchased for a song* 



47 

When your trees are ten years old, — five years old 
from planting, — if all the conditions have been favorable, 
they will likely begin to bear, and at twelve to fifteen 
years, or seven to ten years alter planting, may be expected 
to yield from ten to twenty dollars per tree. 

Frost sometimes interferes with the best regulated 
groves. Wind, rain and drouth, have been known to 
shorten the crop ; insects are troublesome, — so that it is to 
be expected you will meet with disappointments in orange 
growing as well as in other pursuits. 

A grove of five hundred or one thousand trees, at 
twenty years old, if well cultivated, will yield an income 
sufficient to satisfy the wants of any one not over-extrava- 
gant in his notions. 

GATHERING AND CURING ORANGES. 

One of the most important features in successful orange 
culture, is gathering the fruit and curing it for market. 
However lucky you may be in bringing your grove to early 
and full bearing, if the gathering and curing of the crop is 
not intelligently conducted your profits will not meet your 
most sanguine expectations. 

The orange, when under-ripe, is plump and solid ; the 
skin is hard and largely composed of water, and at this 
stage if bruised, or the skin abraided in any manner, decay 
soon begins and extends, and in a very few days the fruit is 
rotten and worthless. 

The fruit should never be pulled from the stem. The 
stem of the orange is hard and tough, and the fruit adheres 
to it with wonderful tenacity. 

In all cases where it is desired to preserve the fruit, 
the stem should be cut with a knife or shears, the fruit 
handled carefully without bruising, and carried directly 
to the 



48 

DRYING HOUSE. 

The drying house should be a building prepared for 
the purpose, light and airy, and with means to close it 
tightly in case of cold or storm. We have stated that the 
rind of the orange, at the usual time of gathering, was 
hard and contained much water; and it is for the purpose 
of getting rid of the water in the rind that a drying house 
is necessary. Hence, tne fruit should be gathered in a 
clear, dry day, and placed in such a position as to hasten 
the evaporation of water from the rind, which when thor- 
oughly accomplished, renders the fruit smooth and elastic, 
toughens the skin and prepares it for a long journey. 

The drying house should be constructed with shelves 
or stalls, about three feet wide, running along the sides of 
the building, the first shelf two feet from the floor, and 
then one foot above that another, and so on to the ceiling 
above, if necessary. The bottom or shelf should be com- 
posed of slats one and a half inches w^ide, and placed one 
and a half inches apart, with the edges or corners beveled off 
soas not to mar or injure the fruit. Now Irim off the stems 
smooth and close to the fruit with the shears, and place the 
oranges on the slats only one tier deep. Here they are left 
to dry from two to six days, or longer if desired ; and when 
sufficiently dried, which can be known by a little experi- 
ence, they are ready to pack for shipping. 

The practice formerly in vogue, and which is still con- 
tinued to some extent here by some shippers, was to gather 
the fruit and pile it into heaps of several bushels, and 
eighteen or twenty inches high, covered with blankets, and 
leave the fruit in the heaps till it underwent a "sweat" of a 
few days, and then uncover, dry and pack. This sweating 
process would seem to us the very worst treatment that the 



fruit could be subjected to, as the process would certainly 
soften the skia and render it more susceptible of decay. 

What is required in the premises is, to evaporate the 
water from the skin and thereby render it tough and elastic. 
This, the drying process by the slatted shelf system, does 
to perfection, and the fruit thus prepared may be packed 
and shipped to Europe with every assurance of success. 

The drying house should be supplied with counter, 
tables and such other appliances as the ingenuity of the 
packer may suggest, for the purpose of assorting the fruit, 
wrapping and boxing. 

BOXING THE FRUIT. 

The ordinary orange box is 12x12x25 inches, inside 
measure, with a partition in the middle, each compartment 
measuring just one cubic foot. The end pieces and parti- 
tion are one inch thick, which should be planed smooth ; 
the sides should be one-fourth of an inch thick, three and a 
half inches wide, planed, so that three slats will form a 
side, leaving a half inch space between the slats for the 
purpose of ventilation. The boxes should be nailed together 
firmly, leaving one side off until the fruit has been placed 
therein. 

When the fruit has become sufficiently cured, it should 
be assorted into two or three grades. Each grade should 
be made up of fruit of the same ripeness, size, color and 
consistence, and marked accordingly. Each orange should 
be wrapped in manilla paper and placed carefully and 
snugly in the box layer by layer until the box is full, and 
the last layer should pi'oject above the box about an inch, 
so that when the cover is placed and nailed it will cause 
the fruit to be pressed firmly together, which will prevent 
shuckincir looselv around when handling. No fear of crush- 
ing the fruit by this means. It will carry much better, and 
arrive at its destination perfect. 



50 

Too much care can not be exercised in assorting and 
selecting the fruit, as one imperfect or decayed specimen 
may contaminate the whole and result in much loss. The 
oranges should be counted and the number marked on the 
box, together with the grade. The box should now be 
firmly strapped at each end, and if to be transported far, 
it would be better and safer to strap around the middle. 

There can be no question about the superiority of the 
drying process of curing the fruit, over the "sweating" 
process. The first, has a tendency to toughen the skin and 
tissues by evaporating the aqueous fluids, while the other 
softens the skin by a heating and fermenting action, 
thereby hastening decay in the tissue, which was de- 
signed to protect ; and no one, we think, who will give 
the subject careful consideration, and view it in the light 
which chemistry affords, will hesitate for a moment to con- 
cede the drying process to be the better wav. An orange 
which is ripe and everyway perfect, placed in a light, dry, 
airy situation, will keep for months, or until it shrivels and 
dries to a crisp ; while one wdiich has passed through the 
sweating process, will soon begin to soften and the skin 
first, and then the pulp melt into one mass of decomposi- 
tion. The one mode is common sense ; the other nonsense. 
Light and a dry atmosphere have a wonderful preservative 
power ; while darknesgj w^armth and moisture are equally 
eflfective in promoting decay. 

SOME AFTER THOUGHTS. 

In speaking of the different mode of treatment which 
a growing tree required from a bearing tree, it was stated 
that from the time the tree was planted till the bearing age 
fertilizers rich in nitrogenous compounds were required to 
push the growing tree. Well rotted stable manure, com- 



51 

posled with muck is uDcloubtedly the best, but where that 
can not be obtained, other materials, such as dried blood, 
guano, fish scrap, raw bone and the like made into a com- 
post with muck will answer very well. The amount neces- 
sary can only be known by trial. 

If the land is poor and sandy, a liberal supply must 
be used, but if a loam or clay soil which will retain fertili- 
zers without leaching, less will be required. 

When the tree has been pushed until it begins to bear, 
a change in the treatment should be pursued. The tree 
no longer requires nitrogenous and carbanacious plant 
food, but such materials as contain potash, phosphoric acid, 
soda, and sulphuric acid. These materials are contained 
in all soils which have once grown hard wood timber, and 
which have a liberal supply of clay in their composition. 
Such soils are found in high, hard wood hammocks, and 
they require less attention to fertilizing under any circum- 
stances. 

The fruit of an orange tree bearing one thousand ordi- 
nary oranges, will weigh about five hundred pounds; and 
of this there will be found four pounds of potash, three 
pounds of soda, one and a half pounds of phosphoric acid, 
some lime, with tracts of iron and magnesia. All soils 
contain more or less of these materials under all circum- 
stances ; but sandy, leachy soils are likely to be deficient. 
Henec the necessity of annual application of these manu- 
real substances if we w^ish to obtain the best results. These 
elements are most readily found fit for immediate use in 
the following : Acid superphospate of lime, fine ground 
bone, wood ashes, sulphate or muriate of potash, sal soda 
and common salt. An annual dressing of some of these 
materials which are thought most required, will produce a 
wonderful effect on the fruitfulness of the grove :ind 



52 

quality of the fruit. Soils wiiich contain these elemeints, 
naturally, are to be preferred when locating your grove. 
The trees will grow more uniform and thrifty, bear better 
and more fruit, and attain a greater longevity. 

The subject of thorough fertilization and cultivation 
occupies much space in this little volume, the importance 
of which will be apparent to those vvho give it the most 
heed; and success in orange culture will be proportionate 
with those who make of it the most intelligent and p;-a(^- 
tical application. 

ORIGIN OF VARIETIES. 

Very little has been said in this work respecting the 
origin of some of our best fruit. In a practical point of 
view, perhaps it is not necessary ; the main object of the 
grower being to obtain the best varieties, no matter what 
or whence their origin. But there are those who may take 
some interest in the matter, and consequently, we will grat- 
ify them to the extent of our knowledge. Many people, 
we niay say most, have an idea that because Florida pro- 
duces the most superior oranges in the world, that of neces- 
sity, they must have originated here, but such is not a 
fact. The best varieties we have, had their origin else- 
where. Magnum Bouum and Homosassa come from South 
or Central America. Blood orange is native of Malta, 
Navel is a native of Brazil. Sugar-Sweet, Sweet Savilie, 
Moore's Thoroless and Seedless are of Spanish origin. St. 
Michaels is native of the Azores. Mandarin, Tangerine 
and their congeneres, we believe to be natives of Japan, 
and belong to the species Citrus Aurant'mm Japonicum. 

A friend of the writer, Mr. Harry Corastock, of New 
York, a man of close observation and unqu'jstioned integ- 
rity, who spent several years in China and Japan, informed 



53 

the writer recently, that the noble orange of China, the one 
most highl}' esteemed by that people, and called by them 
Mandarin, is a small, globular, smooth, thin-rinded fruit, 
with the pulp adhering closely and firmly to the rind ; and, 
that the loose-rinded orange that 2;oes by the name of Tan- 
gerine and Mandarin here, is not common in China, and 
considered of little account, compared with the thin- 
skinned, smooth fruit of that country Gailesio, also, gives 
the same description of the China orange. 

Mr. Comstock further informs us that the loose-rinded 
orange is undoubtedly native to Japan ; that it arrives at 
its greatest perfection there, and is, par excellence, the 
orange. Judge Van Valkenburg, who was formerly Min- 
ister to Japan, and Dr, Geo. K. Hall, who has spent many 
years in that country, confirm Mr. Comstock's views on the 
subject, in the main. Satsuma — formerly noticed herein, 
belongs to this class, and bids fair to rival any other orange 
of the loose-rinded or kid-glove variety. 

The Japanese and Chinese dwarf their fruit trees by 
budding on some slow-growing stock, and produce orange 
trees grown in pots, only two or three feet high, and bear- 
ing hundreds of fruits to a tree. 

Our Northern friends, by adopting the Eastern 
method, could have quite an orange grove in their conserv 
atories. 

The stock chiefly used for dwarfing the orange is. the 
Citrus TnfaUata, a hardy shrub of the citrus family, which 
is well adapted foi- the purpose. To Dr. Geo. R. Hall, is 
due the credit of introducing into this country many rare 
and valuable plants, from Japan, among which are several 
specimens and varieties of the orange tribe, this among the 
number. 



54 

PROPAGATING AND BUDDING. 

The orange is propagated by seeds, layering, cuttings 
and grafting or budding. The object of raising plants 
from seed is to furnish stock for budding and for obtaining 
new varieties. Seedlings do not generally come in bearing 
with any degree of regularity ; some trees will bear at 
seven or eight years old, and all the way up to twenty and 
twenty-five years ; hence the necessity of budding or pro- 
curing budded trees when starting a grove, if early fruiting 
is desired 

The operation of budding is very easy and simple, and 
may be performed by any one having a little tact and 
patience. The best time to bud is when the sap is in brisk 
motion. March, in this climate, is usually chosen, but it 
mav be performed in any month when the sap flows freely. 

The operation consists in making a vertical incision, 
where the bud is to be inserted, about one inch long, through 
the bark down to the wood, and a cross or horizontal in- 
cision at the lower extremity of the vertical cut, that is in 
the form of an inverted letter T, thus, j^. Raise the angu- 
lar corners of the cut bark slightly ; prepare the bud by 
cutting it from the stick a half-inch above and below the 
bud, and crowd it upwards into the slit prepared for it. 
Tie the bud firmly in its place by wrapping it with candle- 
wicking, bass, or strips of clo h. Thirty minutes' practice 
with an experienced budder will impart more information 
than reading volumes on the subject. The other modes of 
propagation are seldom practiced in this country. 

FORFST PROTECTION. 

We cannot close this little volume without again urg- 
ing upon orange growers the absolute necessity of forest 
protection to the grove. It is an easy matter when select- 
ing your location to choose a spot protected on the wind- 



55 

ward side of your grove; or, on that side from which come 
the prevailing winds or gales. In East Florida the prevail- 
ing winds and gales of long duration are from the north- 
east, east and southeast. On the Gulf coast, some of the 
gales come from the west, south and southwest. It is bet- 
ter to be protected on all sides by tall forest trees, if possi- 
sible. In all orange-producing countries one of the requi- 
sites considered of special importance is, the protection of 
the grove from high winds and gales. This is accomplished 
by the erection of high walls, planting belts of forest trees 
locating the grove in sheltered valleys, or on leeward side 
of mountains. 

Dr. C. J. Kenworthy, who has travelled extensively 
through the crange-growing countiies of the world, in- 
formed the writer that the practice of protecting the orange 
groves from the effects of wind-storms, is universal ; and 
is considered of vital necessity wlierever the business is 
prosecuted successfully. 

During the late gale of August 29, 1880, which vis- 
ited the State of Florida, a grove situated near the coast, 
on Indian river, which was not adequately protected on the 
windward side, suffered a loss of 40,000 oranges, besides 
damaging the trees to a feariul extent, by uprooting, wring- 
ing and twisting the branches, whipping off the leaves, etc. 
All this might have been averted if the grove had been 
located wath a view to protection from wind. Other 
groves on Indian river, and throughout the State, in the 
track of the storm, suffered more or less, in proportion as 
they were exposed to the hurricane winds and rain. Thou- 
sands of dollars worth of property was destroyed, wdiich, if 
the proper precautions had been observed when locating or 
planting the grove, might have been saved. 



56 

In East Florida wind-storms sometimes spring from 
any point of the compass, but these, except the easterly, 
are of short duration. The long-continued gales are chiefly 
from an easterly direction. In September, 1879, a high 
wind from the northeast, accompanied with rain, prevailed 
for nearly three weeks, and the result was, that trees ex- 
posed in that direction were nearly denuded of their foliage, 
which, of course, was highly detrimental to the health of 
the tree, besides the loss of fruit which resulted. 

Many writers on orange culture recommend locating a 
grove in a forest only partially cleared of the timber, in 
order to furnish partial shade for the young trees ; and 
also to shield them from harm, from violent wind-storms. 

An occasional forest tree left in the grove, or even 
planted at the time of planting the orange trees, will be of 
great value as wind-breaks. Some trees are better for the 
purpose than others. One species of the live oak ; the one 
having a fine bark, tall-growing, and deep-rooted, is the 
best, as it out grows the orange rapidly, and its roots per- 
meate deeply into the soil, not interfering with the growth 
of the orange in the least. Water oaks are not suitable, as 
their roots run near the surface ; so with many other trees. 
Those should be chosen for the purpose of promiscuous 
planting which grow rapidly tall, and root deeply. If the 
grove is planted in the open field, wind-i)reaks should he 
planted at the same time. Any kind of evergreen forest 
trees may be planted in double rows, such as the various 
oaks, pines, cedars, etc,, which will grow rapidly and be 
long-Hved. 

The tree which we believe to be the best adapted for 
the purpose of a wind-break for an orange j^rove, and for a 
"general shade tree is the Carolina cherry, Cerasus Caroli- 



67 

niana ; or, as it is erroneonsly called in Florida, wild olive. 

This is an evergreen tree, a rapid grower, and forms 
one of the most symmetrical and beautiful shade trees in 
nature. The head of the tree is full and dense, leaves a 
dark, shining green, never changing color nor falling off 
until new ones are formed. The tree is hardy, free from 
disease, and if planted in a generous soil will reach a height 
of twenty to twenty-five feet in ten years. Two rows of 
trees, ten feet apart, and twenty feet apart In the rows, 
planted alternately, will, in a few years, form a dense wind- 
break, and present a line of beauty pleasing to behold. 

The only objection to this tree is its disposition to send 
up sprouts and suckers from the roots. It is a shallow- 
rooted tree , that is, the feeding roots run near the surface 
of the soil, consequently it would not be advisable to plant 
anywhere in the vicinity of an orange tree. 

Again we say, plant timber belts around your orange 
grove. If this one important feature is neglected, you will, 
in all probability, have cause for regret in the future, 

ORANGE INSECTS. 

Since the foregoing pages were written, Mr. Wm. H- 
Ashmead, Entomologist to the Florida Fruit-Growers' As- 
sociation, has issued a very comprehensive and illustrated 
work on the injurious and beneficial insects found on the 
orange trees of Florida. 

This work supplies a long-felt want, and will be of 
vast importance to the orange interests of the State. Every 
one owning an orange grove, or who contemplates the same, 
who desires to study the history, habits, and modus oper- 
andi of the insects, should be supplied with this valuable 
book. 



58 

THE COLD WAVE OF DECEMBER, 1880. 

The orange growers of Florida are again called upon 
to record another vi-itation of frosty weather, which for 
severity excells any one experienced here within the last 
ten years. 

In December, 1870, the thermometer marked about the 
same figures, as in the sama month in 1880, and the dam- 
age done to the young-growing trees at the former freeze 
was much greater than iJOW\ 

In the freeze of 1870 the freezing cold weather contin- 
ued for six days : freezing every night, with bright, sun- 
shiny days ; whereas, the intense frost of the late cold snap 
lasted but one night and day, and the weather continued 
cool, cloudy and rainy for two weeks afterwards, which 
was favorable. 

Like other visitations of the frost king, some locali- 
ties were more lightly touched than others; but from ac- 
counts received, nearly all portions of the State north of 
the twenty-eighth parallel, and .some places even further 
south, were more or less scorched ; however, in the north- 
ern and middle counties, the thermometer ranged lowest, 
and the damage done will likely correspond, at this season 
of the year. A severe frost in February is more likely to 
do damage further south on account of the trees being more 
forward in leaf and blossom. 

Those who contend for the "frost line," below which 
bananas, pine apples, guavas, and other strictly tropical 
fruits, can be cultivated without protection from frost, will 
be obliged to move a little farther down the peninsula. 
Frost is reported to have occurred at Ohuckaluskee, below 
the 26th parallel. Although the damage done by the 
freeze of December 30th, 1880, has been great, especial ly 



69 

to those having ungathered fruit frozen, yet there seems not 
much reason for discouragement. The orange trees have 
suffered but little, except the shedding of the leaves on the 
older trees; and the young trees with late grown shoots will 
be likely to wilt back to ihe older and tougher wood. We 
think few of the yi)ung trees are killed out-right, and all 
should be encouraged to bring their groves to healthy and 
successful bearing, and trust that the frost king, hereafter, 
will make his visits few and far between. 

Those having bearing groves, need have no fear 
for future crops of fruit ; for in Florida the crop is suffi- 
ciently* mature by the first to the twenty-fifth of December, 
before the period of killing frosts, to gather and house, and 
if fruit houses are constructed on correct principles, like the 
one described on a foregoing page, the fruit may be gath- 
ered and kept for many weeks and monlhs, and then be in 
better condition to ship than when freshly gathered from 
the tree. 

We think the orange growers of Florida have little 
cause for discouragement, and every inducement to con- 
tinue and i^ersevere in the good work until their efibrts 
shall be crowned with success. The late cold wave which 
swept over the Slate has demonstrated some facts hereto- 
fore not well understood in regard to tlie different species 
of the citrus family to withstand freezing. The lime, 
lemon and shaddock, have suffered severely in both fruit 
ami wood ; the sweet orange trees, both seedlings and bud- 
ded, range next ; the wild orange suffered least, scarcely 
shedding its leaves in exposed situations ; while the Sat- 
suma, or Japan orange tree, heretofore described, was not 
affected in the least, not even the leaves turning yellow or 
dropping from the branches. 

Dr. Hail informed the writer that at his piace, on Fort 
George island, near the mouth of the St. Johns river, at this 
waiting (January 15th), while all other orange trees have 
shed their leaves and the late growth or angular branches 
have been killed, — yet the Satsuma seems not to have been 
affected in any respect, and is as green and flourishing, both 
imported and budcied trees, as before the frost. 

Mr. A. I. Bidwell, also, has observed aud noted the 
same peculiarities in regard to the Satsuma. 



60 

These facts id retpect to the ability of different species 
of citrus to endure a low temperature, is a matter of much 
importance to those planting groves, and should be taken 
into consideration when selecting stocks and varieties to be 
planted in exposed situations. The sweet orange, budded 
on lemon stocks, although making rapid and large growth, 
have suffered more than on any other ; hence, all thiigs 
considered, the wild orange stock is to be preferred for 
budding the sweet orange. For hardiness and ability to 
flourish on any soil, wet or dry, rich or poor, the wild 
stock is the best. 

CONCLUSION. 

The writer desires to state that in preparing this little 
work for the press, no particular style or phraseology has 
been attempted, but on the other hand, he has endeavored 
to present facts as they appeared, in as plain and direct a 
manner as possible. He has strenuously avoided the use 
of all technical terras, and striven to present his ideas in 
language that all could understand. 

It is not pretended that this book presents all the facts 
worth knowing in the culture of the orange. There are 
many things yet to learn. Neither is it claimed that the 
writer's mode of culture is the best. Others, by pursuing 
a somewhat different course may reach satisfactory results. 

But after some years of close attention and experi- 
ence, with a fair share of success, he believes his conclu 
aions are entitled to some degree of consideration. It is 
believed, with his present knowledge of orange culture, the 
writer could accomplish as much, or more in six years, 
than he has in the last ten ; and that any one who will fol- 
low the hints herein set forth may succeed equally well. 

With these remarks, this little volume is respectfully 
submitted to the scrutiny of an intelligent and liberal pub- 
lic. 

FLORIDA. 

" Know'st thou the land where the lemon trees bloom, 
Where the gold orange glows in the deep thicket's gloom, 
Where a wind ever soft from the blue heaven blows, 
And the groves are of laurel, and myrtle and rose ?'■ 



Ashmead Brothers 



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.25c. ; 11x11 per ream 30c. Special prices in large quantities. 

Every Orange Grower Should Have One 

' OI^AIXOE IIN SECTS." 

A treatise on the Injurious and Beneficial Insects found on the Orange Trees of 
Florida ; with four original photo-lithogriphic plates, numerous figures, and 
twenty-thr' e wood cuts, illustrating the different insects treated of, has just been 
published by Wm. H. Ashmead. Every orange grower should have one. 
Mailed to any address, postage free, upon receipt of price. $1.50. Address 

ASHMEAD BROTHEKS, 

21 West Bay Street, - - Jacksonville, Florida. 



yBRARY OF CONGRESS ^ 

021 531 3128 



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